Table A. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates for Zamboanga Peninsula and Zamboanga City, All Items
In Percent
(2018=100)

A.    Zamboanga City
1.    Overall Inflation Rate
Headline inflation in Zamboanga City continue to slow down to 2.8 percent in 
February 2025 from 3.9 percent in January 2025. In February 2024, inflation rate was comparatively lower at 2.5 percent. (Figure 1)

1.1    Main Drivers Behind the Downtrend of the Overall Inflation Rate in Zamboanga City
The main drivers on the downtrend of the overall inflation in February 2025 was primarily driven by the slower annual increment of the commodity group, Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages which stood at 1.4 percent from 2.6 percent inflation in 
January 2025. In addition, the decrease in prices in the categories of Transport at 
(1.6) percent from 0.9 percent and Restaurants and Accommodation Services at 3.2 percent from 4.8 percent also contributed to the deflationary trend of the overall inflation rate in Zamboanga City.
In addition, lower annual increments were also observed in the following commodity groups:
a.    Furnishing, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance, 1.0 percent from 1.6 percent;
b.    Clothing and Footwear, 0.8 percent from 1.7 percent;
c.    Recreation, Sport and Culture, 3.9 percent from 4.2 percent;
d.    Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, 1.3 percent from 4.4 percent;
e.    Information and Communication, 0.7 percent from 1.1 percent;
f.    Personal Care, Miscellaneous Goods and Services, 1.8 percent from 2.2 percent;
g.    Health, 2.9 percent from 3.8 percent;
h.    Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and other Fuels, 8.4 percent from 8.7 percent;

Meanwhile, the following commodity groups retained their previous month’s inflation rates:
a.    Education Services, 5.8 percent;
b.    Financial Services, 0.0 percent;

1.2    Main Contributors to the Overall Inflation Rate 
The top three (3) commodity groups contributing to the overall inflation rate in Zamboanga City were the following:
a.    Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels, contributing 62.0 percent share or 1.7 percentage points;
b.    Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages contributing 22.3 percent share or 0.6 percentage points; and,
c.    Restaurants and Accommodation Services 7.2 percent share or  0.2 percentage points.

Table B. Year-on- Year Inflation Rates in Zamboanga City, All Items, In percent
January 2021 – January 2025
(2018=100)   

Table C. Year-On-Year Inflation Rates by Commodity Groups in Zamboanga City for all Income Households, 2018=100 
    
 

2.    Food Inflation

Food inflation in Zamboanga City in February 2025 decelerated to 1.3 percent from 2.7 percent in January 2025. On the other hand, food inflation in February 2024 was slightly higher at 5.4 percent.

1.1    The Main Drivers Behind the Downtrend of the Food Inflation
The main drivers in the downtrend of food inflation in February 2025 was brought by the slower annual growth rate of the food index of Cereals and cereal products (ND), which recorded (6.3) percent from (2.5) percent inflation in the preceding month. In addition, the decrease in prices of the food indices of Cereals at (9.9) percent from (5.0) percent inflation and Rice, at (9.9) percent from (5.0) percent also contributed to the lower food inflation. 
Lower year-on-year growth rates were also observed in the following food commodities:
a.  Flour, Bread and Other Bakery Products, Pasta Products, and Other Cereals, 3.3 percent from 4.4 percent;
b.  Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, 7.8 percent from 9.4 percent;
c.  Fish and other Seafood (ND), 0.3 percent from 3.0 percent;
d. Corn, (8.1) percent from (2.2) percent;

In contrast, higher annual increases were observed in the following food commodities:

a.    Milk, and other dairy products and eggs (ND), 2.0 percent from 1.1 percent;
b.    Oils and Fats (ND), 1.1 percent from 0.7 percent;
c.    Fruits and Nuts, 29.2 percent from 25.1 percent;
d.    Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses (ND), 6.2 percent from 2.4 percent;
e.    Sugar, Confectionery and Desserts, 3.0 percent from 0.2 percent;
f.    Ready-made food and other products, n.e.c. (ND), 5.8 percent from 4.3 percent;

1.2    Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation shared 29.6 percent or 1.1 percentage points to the overall inflation in December 2024. The top three (3) food groups that contributed to the acceleration of food inflation during the month were the following: 
a.    Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals (ND), with a share of 148.0 percent or 1.9 percentage points;
b.    Fruits and nuts, contributing 141.1 percent share or 1.8 percentage point; and,
c.    Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses (ND), with 75.2 percent share or 1.0 percentage point
Note: CPIs and inflation rates by province and selected city are posted at the PSA website (http://openstat.psa.gov.ph/).

MEWCHUN WS. PAMARAN
Regional Director

MFET/mgcn